LaGrange College's most prestigious non-academic honor for entering students,
LIFT provides a leadership development program for 10 incoming first-year undergraduates.
LIFT identifies incoming students with strong leadership/service-oriented backgrounds
and then exposes them to an intentionally designed leadership development curriculum.

LIFT participants:

Are selected over the summer prior to arriving on campus by an application process
overseen by a committee of college faculty and staff.

Begin the program with a four-day backpacking and rock-climbing leadership development
experience led by North Carolina Outward Bound in Brevard, North Carolina.

Take part in monthly leadership sessions that feature experiential learning activities
and sessions with established leaders.

Participate in a variety of service projects both on and off campus to promote
active engagement within the college community.

In the end, LIFT is much more than just an impressive line on a résumé. It offers
a complete experience designed to promote intensive personal learning and to equip
participants with the tools to lead within the college and community for years
to come.

Interested students must apply before Wednesday, June 20, 2018.

Outward Bound experience

The intensity of the program's leadership development curriculum begins immediately.
Its first stage takes participants to North Carolina Outward Bound's Cedar Rock
Base Camp, located near Brevard, North Carolina. This trip includes an intensive
four-day backpacking and rock-climbing experience through the Mt. Pisgah National
Forest. In preparation for the trip participants should be able to hike a total
of 2-3 miles in a day at a steady pace as well as being comfortable with being
outdoors or extended periods of time. All costs associated with the trip are covered
by a generous donation provided by LaGrange College Trustee Ted Beason.

Outward Bound is the oldest, most respected outdoor educator in the world, and
North Carolina Outward Bound, the oldest independent Outward Bound school in the
country, knows how to open your eyes to your own potential.

Apply

Interested incoming first-year students may apply to the program by submitting
an application consisting of three parts:

A leadership/service résumé. This should include the applicant's name, email address, phone number,
mailing address, and high school name. The résumé also should include two
sections that outline the applicant's leadership and service accomplishments as
well as awards, if applicable. The selection committee is looking for candidates
who have demonstrated a desire to serve others in their schools, churches, and
communities.

A short reflection that describes a prominent leader in your life:
How have they impacted you? What qualities make them a respectable leader? The essay should be between 250 and 500 words; it should be submitted in a double-spaced Word document with 12 point Times New Roman font and standard margins.

A statement indicating whether the applicant would be able to attend the North Carolina Outward Bound trip
. The trip is currently scheduled to occur in the first week of August. Although the trip
is an important part of the program, we realize that individuals may have specific
needs or circumstances that would not allow them to participate; if you are unable
to attend the trip, please explain why in your application.

Goals

As a concept, “leadership” can have multiple meanings depending on the context
in which the word is applied. Based on the mission of LaGrange College and
the institution’s strong tie to Wesleyan as well as liberal arts traditions, the
LIFT curriculum promotes the following three leadership-related learning goals: